Returning from four days away from the state Capitol, and with just a handful of voting session days scheduled before the traditional June 30 budget deadline, legislative leaders returned to Harrisburg Monday reporting little progress on getting a consensus on a spending and revenue plan that will close out FY 2016-2017 and provide for FY 2017-2018.

While those responsible for crafting the fiscal plan promised to talk over the four days where members were away from Harrisburg, it appears those meetings—if they occurred at all—proved to move the ball forward only inches (or less) on getting a deal on the main points of a spending plan.

As the Pennsylvania budget is due within the next several days, a group of advocates filled the main Capitol rotunda to call for a budget that is fair and creates new revenue sources for education, human services, and environmental protection.

The advocates are part of Pennsylvania’s Choice, a coalition that includes—among others—the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, Keystone Progress, and Public Interest Law Center.

Currently, the legislature has proposed using cuts to state programs like the DEP and revenue sources like gambling and tobacco to try and close the deficit the Commonwealth is facing.

June 1st of this year President Donald J. Trump announced his plan to withdrawal the United States from the Paris Climate Accord.

The Paris Climate Accord was a global coalition created in December of 2015 to promote the reality of global climate change and implement a plan to reduce gas emissions 26 percent-28 percent from the 2005 levels. 196 nations signed the pact to reduce emissions and fund approximately $100 billion into developing nations so they could also reduce emissions.

After the withdrawal, Pres. Trump did say he would remain in negotiations for the deal, but that it was fiscally irresponsible for the United States to remain in the deal.

The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority board approved the appointment of Robert Weimar as its interim executive director for one year.

Weimar, formerly the acting director of engineering for the authority, will earn up to $350,000 in the role.

Bernard Lindstrom, a retired U.S. Army Colonel, has served as interim executive director since September, and was poised to stay in that position for up to two years, via an announcement by Mayor Bill Peduto.